James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Kieron Williamson is a seven-year-old in the UK who is becoming known for his paintings. In this link, he’s the subject of a Reuters news feature.

This kid makes me feel like a late bloomer. I didn’t do a lot of drawing until I was around 13, It wasn’t until about then I was starting to think about being an artist. I didn’t really get into oil painting and professional work until I was about 20. The blessing of those teenage years was that art was a private passion, something completely disconnected from commerce and recognition. I find that in my professional life I feed on those teenage years of drawing just for the love of it.

But I think young Kieron will do well. Both he and his dad seem to have their feet on the ground.

my elementary school was geared towards the arts, and there were definatly a few child prodiges there, it was kind of eerie to watch these children put together complete works of art at an incredibly difficult level...

also, i'm very excited about the huge dinotopia art show in delaware next weekend its going to be amazing, and i've talked to lester from the fantasy workshop in woodstock and he's going too!

and looking forward to my second symester at the "gurney school of art" on sunday with the water pencil class!! cant wait!!

Living here in the UK, I've read several articles about this young man.Sure he's talented and I wish him all the success in the world. I read that at one of his exhibitions run by a local gallery that has taken him under their wing, all pieces sold and a further nine hundred orders were taken for additional works not yet produced. I can't help feeling he's going to be taken advantage of. Would it be cynical to suggest that his own personal development path will be tainted by market forces? I fear he might not be afforded the journey of self discovery' afforded by anonymity.I hope someone's looking out for him.

I think there is little to no relationship between child prodigies and good artists, except perhaps in music. Usually good artists were talented children, of course, and that young boy is definitely talented (like many other boys and girls, anyway). But I'm quite sure all the mess around him doesn't help him much: how can he improve if they keep on telling him he's a genius and he's going to become a new Picasso?

The kid is incredible, but you have to hope he doesn't burn out. When I was in 6-8th grade we had a "special art" program where certain kids were picked to do advanced projects like oil painting a still life or studying abstract art. Most of us still have some artistic outlet and it was a wonderful experience.

The difference between this boy and Akiane is that her pictures are truly repulsive, and it is unlikely she will ever produce anything better. Kieron's pictures are a good basis for further development. In a year or two, he could be making very good drawings.

Very good work, I'm just starting on painting (@27yrs)! ... I do wonder if he has done any figure studies yet? Is he just a prodigy with landscapes? ...or the whole 9 yards? He'll be interesting to watch!Side note:I do worry about kids developing anxiety early when feeling they have to do well all the time... I hope he is given room to make mistakes and grow with his own ideas... that's what makes art fun to create! His dad does seem "with it" though... ;)